Volunteering Development Operations Manager

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. We're seeking an experienced Volunteering Development Manager to lead the development and implementation of volunteering initiatives across the RNLI. Working closely with the Head of Volunteering, you'll drive strategic projects, create new volunteering opportunities, and ensure a consistent approach to volunteering development across the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity to influence volunteering at a national level, working with a wide range of stakeholders to maximise volunteer impact and support the RNLI's lifesaving mission.

About the role

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and influencing a team of volunteering professionals.
• Delivering volunteering initiatives aligned to the People and Volunteering Strategy.
• Monitoring, analysing and reporting on volunteering performance through KPIs, dashboards and scorecards.
• Developing volunteer management resources and toolkits to support Volunteer Managers.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on volunteering policies, procedures and complex issues.
• Building strong stakeholder relationships to champion volunteering and attract a diverse volunteer workforce.
• Supporting policy development, continuous improvement initiatives and future volunteering planning.
• Deputising for the Head of Volunteering when required.

Location: Hybrid working between home and Poole (2 days a week).

About you

You'll be an experienced volunteering professional with a proven track record of developing volunteering within a large and complex charity or organisation. You'll bring:

• Significant experience in volunteering development and volunteer management.
• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong communication and influencing abilities, with the confidence to work at all levels.
• Experience using data and insight to measure impact and drive improvement.
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to problem solving.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of volunteering within one of the UK's most respected charities. You'll work alongside passionate colleagues and volunteers, helping to create sustainable volunteering opportunities that make a real difference.

For more information and to apply, please visit our jobs page.

Closing date: 12 August 2026.

Interview date: 4 September 2026.

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding: protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role (England & Wales: DBS check; Scotland: Disclosure Scotland PVG; Northern Ireland: Access NI; Republic of Ireland: Garda Vetting; International: International Child Protection Certificate process).

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable) and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.